Shock therapy! Chief runs riot in Nimhans

Bengaluru: In India only four Institutes have been declared of national importance -- the All India Institute of Medical Sciences(AIIMS);  Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research(PGIMER) Chandigarh; Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research(JIPMER) and Nimhans. The first two institutes earned the recognition since their inception, while Nimhans received  it recently by an act of parliament.

Sadly, the recent ‘sacking’ row has put the Institute under a cloud. Dr V Ravi along with other faculty members were faced with sudden termination. This shocked all those who were following developments. The haste with which the  director-in-charge quickly terminated the services of some of his faculty,  has created discontent and a feeling of uncertainty amongst the faculty. "This behavior is vindictive and unpredictable and we all do not know why is he is doing all this. As the head of an institution one needs to maintain decorum and dignity," says a very senior doctor in Nimhans on condition of anonymity.

A  senior doctor, who was just dismissed from service, recalls, "I was called two years back by the Institute and now suddenly I have been removed after taking charge this April. This has left me disheartened," he confesses.

Despite some professors crying foul over the sackings, the director-in-charge maintains that he is merely following the Nimhans Act and is not  following any personal vendetta against any of the professors. "When people assert that they have been sacked or terminated they need to prove it in black and white," says the miffed director-in-charge Dr Nityananda Pradhan, whose tenure ends on Friday. His month-long stint has caused nothing but resentment.

Sources also reveal that the people sacked were not even given a word of praise for their service. "He could have been cordial and thanked them, but these thirteen people have been suddenly removed without any explanation .” Speaking about the uncertainty and ruffled feelings among the faculty staff, the acting director asserts, "These thirteen people were administrative consultants holding administrative positions even after retirement. Let them declare that I have removed a clinical consultant, which is the predominant motto of Nimhans."

"Genuine grievances are being  listened to and I am empathically looking at them," asserts Dr Pradhan while speaking to DC.  "I am doing everything according to the Nimhans Act and within the system. Whatever is being done, is as per the Act of parliament and the Nimhans Act. Anything outside that purview would clearly defeat the Institute's main motto.” Some insiders at the Institute reveal that these issues have been brewing within the walls of Nimhans for the past twenty years.

"He was a very difficult person to work with from the start and also very aggressive. He does not see patients, in fact he has not seen patients for the last 30 years. So stating that there has been medical negligence and other loopholes is not the right thing. It is just a gross misuse of power," adds a source.

"All this is not fair to the doctors and our morale is dipping," comments a senior doctor. Doctors have no option but to wait out the 48 hours till the current acting director retires. “He has removed most of the people, I don’t think there’s anyone left. But we are crossing our fingers,” sums up a faculty member.

More chaos waiting to happen? No name yet on the director’s board!

Despite the huge commotion over the tenure of the current director-in-charge of Nimhans, there seems to be no clue about who the next director will be. The acting director himself has been asking the central government to appoint a new director. Says Dr Nityananda Pradhan, "I have no idea who is going to take over Nimhans after Friday. I have been trying to reach the Union ministry but they have not yet got back to me on this. "   Dr Pradhan added that he had been “hurt” by the reactions of some of the faculty members.

Since Nimhans has been recognized as an institute of national importance, the appointment of a director needs to be made by the union ministry and by an act of Parliament. According to sources, 14 people have applied for the post of director of Nimhans from all across the country, but the appointment has not yet been made.

"I received a letter from the centre asking me to continue in place of the director till they appoint a new director on or before August 1st," says Dr Pradhan. He adds, "I have not received any more information on this.”  When DC tried to reach JP Nadda for an update on this issue he could not be reached.